Fire extinguisher



Oct. 2, 1951 CONE 2,569,975

FIRE EXTINGUISHER Filed April 28, 1949 Jase 97v L 60/76 Patented Oct. 2, 1951 FIRE EXTINGUISHER Joseph H. Cone, Bridgeport, Conn, assignor to Casco Products Corporation, Bridgeport, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application April 28, 1949, Serial No. 90,180

12 Claims.

This invention relates to small, tin-can type pressurized liquid fire extinguishers such as are filled with Freon and carbon tetrachloride, and have a size on the order of a #1 food can.

These extinguishers, which are discharged by the breaking of a sealing member, have found favor for home use and the like because they are small, inexpensive, light in weight, require little space, are easily stored or mounted in readiness for use, and may be conveniently held in one hand and manipulated without requiring any special skill.

However, the attributes which recommended this type of extinguisher have also been responsible for drawbacks of appreciable importance. For, while the extinguisher when properly operated and handled was found to be useful and effective against fires in the very earliest or incipient stage, the desired objective, i. e. putting out the fire, was often not attained because of a number of difierent factors.

These included the operator's difliculty in understanding and operating the extinguisher, the non-uniformity of the stream, and as often occurred, the inefficient and uneconomical use of the extinguishing liquid, all traceable to the particular construction of the extinguisher. Because of the relatively small amount of fluid provided in each extinguisher and the short duration of discharge of said fluid, any waste or misdirection of the extinguishing stream appreciably impairs the value of the device and should be avoided. Such misdirection, however, can very readily occur during the initial operation of the extinguisher by one not familiar with the particular method of operation, particularly when under the tension and excitement caused by a fire.

By the present invention the above disadvantages of .prior tin-can type extinguishers have been overcome, and one object of the invention is to provide an improved fire extinguisher of this type which is extremely simple to understand and operate, and is foolproof and uniformly effective and reliable in operation at all times.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved fire extinguisher in accordance with the above, which is so arranged and organized that an average lay person not having previous experience will, by a quick glance at the extinguisher and without having to read directions or interpret signs, immediately know in what direction the stream will issue prior to putting the extinguisher in operation. In connection with this, a further object of the invention is to provide an improved fire extinguisher as thus characterized.

2 which may be first aimed and directed and the easily and quickly made operative so that the best possible use of the liquid contents of the extinguisher will be made- 7 Yet another object of the invention is to provide an improved pressurized liquid fire extinguisher of the in-can type, which when put into operation will discharge all of the liquid contents of the container while at the same time enabling the container to be held in a large number of different operative positions.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved fire extinguisher as above characterized, which has relatively few parts of simple construction, and is economical to produce.

In accomplishing the above objects I provide, in conjunction with a can-type container, a novel unitary assembly which comprises a fracturable, sheet metal sealing plate adapted for sealing attachment directly to an apertured wall of the container over the aperture thereof, a housing mechanically joined to the sealing plate and enclosing outer surfaces thereof, a nozzle mounted on the housing, and manually operable means movably carried by the housing, for piercing the sealing plate. The assembly may include a stand pipe or discharge pipe adapted to extend into the container, or may be fabricated without such pipe. The manually operable means of the assembly, as disclosed herein, may be a simple depressible button having a pointed portion arranged to pierce the seal when the button is depressed.

I thus provide an operative unit complete in and of itself, all dimensions and tolerances of which may be closely controlled. As a consequence, extremely uniform performance and reliability of the unit, and consequently of the extinguisher on which it is mounted, is bad. Since, to operate the extinguisher it is merely necessary to depress the button, a movement which even the most unlearned and unskilled are familiar with and readily understand, a highly desirable, simple and foolproof method of operation of the device has been provided.

The nozzle mounted on the housing comprises a tubular pro ectin'z member which is readily visible and thus unmistakably indicates even to a lay person the direction in which the stream of liquid from the container will travel. Thus the extin uisher may be quickly, correctly aimed or directed at the fire prior to being put into operation, and then the seal readily broken by depressing the button, whereby the most effective and economical use of the container contents 3 will be had to effect the fullest possible quenching action.

Since the nozzle shape and diameter may be accurately maintained in production and are not altered when the device is made operative, the shape of the stream which is discharged from mass-produced extinguishers will be of uniform character, and may be made to provide the best quenching action, thereby further insuring reliability in use.

In one embodiment of the invention the discharge pipe, which is advantageously carried by side and bottom walls to enable a more complete; discharge of liquid from the container to be effected. I

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is an axial sectional view taken through a fire extinguisher illustrating one embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail showing the. sealing means and fracturing mechanism therefor. and the nozzle of the fire extinguisher.

' Fig. 3 is a top or plan view of the partsv shownin Fig. 2, and 4 Fig. 4 is a view like Fig. 1 but showing another embodiment of the invention wherein a flexible connection is provided in the liquid discharge tube.

As shown, the present improved fire extinguisher comprises a container I!) which is preferably in the form of a relatively small can such as a #1 food can, having cylindrical side walls H and inwardly-dished end walls 12 and 13 thelatter of which has a central aperture M.

The container l may be filled with any suitable extinguishing liquid such as carbon tetrachloride, and may also contain an expelling agent such as Freon or the like, retained under pressure.

In accordance with the invention a novel, unitary, economical-to-fabricate assemblage is provided in conjunction with the container ID, whereby an advantageous simplicity, uniformity and reliability of operation is had, together with extreme ease of comprehension of said operation and quick understanding of where the extinguishin stream will issue from and in what direction it will be discharged.

This assemblage comprises a fracturable, sheet-metal sealing plate [5 which may be in the form of a disk, said plate being adapted for sealing attachment directly to the end wall 13- of the container over the aperture l4 thereof. Preferably the plate I5 is of copper, and is bonded to the container wall l3 as by soldering. The assemblage includes a cup-shaped housing [6 having a body portion I! and an outwardly flanged base l8 which is mechanically secured to the sealing plate [5 by crimping the periphery of the latter over the base, as shown.

A side l9 of the housing is formed to be outwardly angularly offset, and is apertured and provided with a tubularmetal spout or nozzle which projects angularly from the housing and communicates with the interior thereof.

' At the top of the housing body H a large aperture 2| is provided, slidably receiving a depress:

"and operative parts of the extinguisher.

tube.

4 ible button 22 having a retainer flange 23 engaged by a helical compression spring 24 whereby the button is normally yieldably held in the protruding position shown in Fig. 2. A sealing washer 25 is interposed between the flange 2.3 and top of the housing iii.

For the purpose of piercing the sealing plate [5, the button 22 is provided with a point 26 adapted to engage and break through. the central portion 21 of the plate when the button is depressed.

The above components, namely the sealing plate l5, housing [6, nozzle 20, button 22, spring 24 and washer 25,.constitute a unitary device complete in, and of itself, which may be complete'ly assembled separate from the container 10, and which embraces the relatively movable The dimensions and tolerances of this assembly may be closely controlled and held in mass production and the parts accurately. retained in their correct operative positions, whereby assurance will be had that, whenever these assemblies are incorporated in fire extinguishers there will result highly uniformoperating characteristics making .forextreme reliability and effectiveness. Since the nozzle-:2 0, is not deformed but retains its shape'when the extinguisher .is put into operation, the stream discharged from thenozzle will be clearly defined and-may 'beaccurately cbntrolled. r r i".

Moreover, the operation of a push.;button is, something well understood by practically everyone. as is thefunctioning 'of a nozzle. Therefore the incorporation of-such comxnonly met and well understood parts in a permanently as sembled unit arrangedtolpermitbf economical manufacture and yet when i ncorporated in an extinguisher provide for reliabilityand; uni-- formity of performance, is seen to be of considerable advantage. An operator may, by a glance at an extinguisher so equipped, readily know where the stream will issue from, and where it will be directed, and therefore may aim-the extinguisher priorto putting it in'operation so as to utilize to thebest advantage, 'without waste, the relatively small amount of extinguishing liquid available. This the operator may do without reading directions or interpreting signs such as arrows or the like,v which at bestcan indicate directiononly in one plane.

After being aimed, an extinguisher incorporating the above assemblage may ,be readily and quickly put into operation bydepressing the button 22.

To feed liquid from the container In to the housing lfi and nozzle 20 after the sealing plate I 5 has beenruptured, a feed or discharge tube 28 is provided, said tube being adapted toextend into the container [0 to a point closely adjacent the bottom 12 thereof. p

According to the'invention the feed tube 28 may be. advantageously carried by the sealing plate [5 so asto constitute a part of the unitary assembly of which the plate is a part. To effect this, the plate l5is formed up at its center to provide a dished portion 29 which receives and closely, confines the top end 39 of the discharge Preferably the. tube is bonded to the dished portion 29 by being sweated thereto with solder, the tube thus, together withsaid dished portion, effectively acting as. an anvil to provide a reactive force when the button 22 is being depressed. The tube 28 may be straight as shown in full lines in Fig. 4, or may be bent to, occupy the broken-line position shown, depending on the position the extinguisher is to be used in.

In accordance with this invention novel, easily removable cover means are provided for the button 22 to prevent accidental depressing of the same and breaking of the seal l5. This means comprises a cap 3| having a cup-shaped portion 32 enclosing the button 22, and having a plurality of spring fingers 33 with outturned ends for frictionally engaging the exterior of the housing I Ii whereby the cap is removably mounted thereon.

The cap 3| normally wholly encloses the button 22 and prevents the latter from being accidentally depressed, yet may be very easily and quickly removed at the time of an emergency to enable a user to render the extinguisher operative, such removal being facilitated by the outturned ends of the fingers 33, which function as finger grips.

The unitary assembly secured to the exterior of the container wall 13 is so arranged and proportioned that it lies wholly within the hollow of the wall, whereby extinguishers may be readily stacked one on the other without interference fro said assemblies.

According to the present invention means are provided to enable substantially all of the liquid in the container It! to be discharged therefrom during use of the extinguisher even though it be held in a number of different positions. Where the available supply of liquid to begin with is limited, such means is seen to be of considerable advantage. V

In accomplishing this, referring to Fig. 4, I make the tube 28a shown therein in two sections 34 and 35, and provide a universal-movement type of connection between the sections, said connection specifically comprising a flexible rubber hose section 36 secured by metal clamping bands 31 to adjacent ends of the tube sections. The hose section 36 enables the tube section 35 to swing laterally under the action of gravity when the container I is tilted to any side, whereby the free end 38 of the tube section may be'located closely adjacent the sides ll of the container for tilted positions thereof. Thus the stream of liquid from the extinguisher may be directed either upward, horizontally or downward without suffering a loss in the total quantity of liquid which is expelled, making the extinguisher more universal inits application.

It will be seen that in the organization described above I have provided an extremely simple and efiective means whereby substantially all of the liquid contents of the containerJU may be discharged through the nozzle 20 when the extinguisher is made operative. This will be true regardless of whether the container is held in the upright position shown in Fig. 1, or in a posi tion tilted sideways in any direction, to any extent up to and including 90.

Also, the structure by which the. nozzle 20, housing [6, button 22 and feed tube 23 are mounted on the end wall 13 of the container is seen to be extremely simple and economical to fabricate, while at the same time being eifective for the purposes desired. The soldered plate effectively seals the container and the feed tube, and prevents any leakage of liquid or gas from the container. Thus, the fire extinguisher will remain pressurized and ready for operation over an extended period of time, and will not deteriorate. With the construction shown an operator may easily and quickly remove the'protective cap 3| and break the seal l5 by merely depressing the button 22. Since the nozzle 20 is visible at all times, it may be aimed at the point of confiagration prior to the seal being broken, thereby eliminating possible waste of the extinguishing liquid.

The parts of the extinguisher described above are relatively few in number and of simple and economical construction, and the assembly may be easily and quickly accomplished whereby the extinguisher is economical to fabricate and produce.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of this invention and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

I claim: v

1. In a pressurized liquid fire extinguisher havinga container including a wall provided with an opening, the improvement which comprises: said container wall having attached to its ex.-' terior a unitary assembly including a readily fracturable sheet-metal sealing plate directly secured to said wall around the opening thereof; a pipe substantially commensurate in area with said opening, attached to said plate and extend ing into the container through the opening in said wall, said plate sealing the wall and pipe. and having an edge crimped back on itself; a housing secured to said plate under the crimped edge thereof and enclosing the major part of the outer surface of the platej manually operable means carried by the housing, for piercing said plate; and a. nozzle carried by said housing for directing liquid which is discharged from the container.

2. In a pressurized liquid fire extinguisher having a container including a wall provided with an opening, the improvement which comprises:

said container wall having attached to its exterior a unitary assembly including a readily fracturable sheet-metal sealing plate disposedflat against and bonded to said wall over a large area around the opening thereof to tightly seal the wall; a pipe substantially commensurate in area with said opening, attached to said plate and extending into the container through the opening in said wall, said plate sealing the wall and pipe and having an edge crimped back on itself; a housing having a base flange secured to said plate under the crimped edge thereof, said housing enclosing the major part of the outer surface of the plate; manually operable means carried by the housing, for piercing said plate; and a nozzle carried by said housing for directing liquid which is discharged from the container.

3. In a pressurized liquid fire extinguisher having a container including a wall provided with an opening, the improvement which comprises: said container wall having attached to its exterior a unitary assembly including a sealing plate disposed flat against the wall; means securingthe inner side of the plate to the wall around the opening thereof; a pipe substantially commensurate in area with said opening, attached to said plate and extending into the container through the opening in said wall, said plate sealing the wall and having a fracturable portion sealing the pipe; a housing secured to said plate, having a tubular portion surrounding said fracturable plate portion; manually operable means comprising a depressible button carried by the housing and projecting axially from the tubular portion thereof, for piercing said fracturable plate portion; a nozzle carried by saidhousing for: directing liquid which is discharged from the container; and a removable cap on the housing, having sides slidably engaging the tubular housing portion, adapted to normally-cover said depressible button and prevent accidental external pressure from being. applied thereto, and the sides 'of the cap having outturned finger grips to-facilitate its removal.

- 4. In a pressurized liquid fire extinguisher having acontainerincluding a wall provided with an opening, and having a discharge tube within the container, substantially commensurate in area-with saidppening and connected-thereto, the improvement which comprise's'z} said .container wall having attached to its exterior-a unitary assembly including a readily fracturable sealing plate directly secured-to said wall around the opening thereof; a housing carried by the sealingplate and enclosing outer surfaces thereof, said plate having edge portionscrimped over part of the housing to secure the latter to the plate; manually operable means carried by the housing, for piercingsaid sealing plate; and ,a.

nozzle carried by said housing for directing liquid which is discharged from the container.

5. In a pressurized liquid fire extinguisher having a container including a wall provided with an opening, and having a discharge tubewithin the container, substantially commensurate in area with said opening and protruding therethrough, the improvement whichlcoznprises: said container wall having attached toits exterior a unitary assemblyincluding a readily fracturable sheet-metal sealing plate direct1y ,se cure'd to said wall around the opening thereofiand having a dished middle portion receivingthe protruding end of the tube and supporting ,the

latter; a housing wholly carried by 1 1? aling plate, enclosing said dished portion thereof,f said plate having edge portions crimped over partfOf,

the housing to secure the latter to thefplate;

manually operable means carried by tliehousing,

for piercing said dished portion of the plate:

and a nozzle carried by said housing for direct ing liquid which is discharged from the'container.

6. In a pressurized liquid fire extinguisher having a container including a hollow end wall provided with an opening, and having a discharge tube within the container, substantially com-- mensurate in area with said opening and connected thereto, the improvement which comprises: said container wall having attached to its exterior and contained substantially wholly in the hollow thereof whereby the container may he stood on its end a unitary assembly including a readily fracturable sealing plate directly secured to said wall around the opening thereof; a housing carried by the sealing plate and enclosing the major part of the outer surfaces of the plate, said plate having an edge crimped back on itself and confining portions of the housing to secure the housing to the plate; manually operable means carried by the housing, for piercing said sealing plate; and a nozzle carried by said housing for directing liquid which is discharged from the container.

7. As a new article of manufacture, a unitary nozzle assembly for attachment to an apertured wall of a container for fire-extinguishing liquid. comprising a housing part; means comprising a fracturable sealing plate part constituting a wall of the housing part, for securing the housing part to said container wall over the aperture thereof and for sealing said aperture, one of said parts haiving aniedge-crimped back on itself and confining portions of the other part to secure the parts together; a nozzle on said housing part;- and manually operable means carried by said housing part, for piercing said plate part, thereby to-break the seal of the aperture.

8'. As a new article of manufacture, a unitary nozzle assembly for attachment to an apertured wall-pf a container for fire-extinguishing liquid, comprising a housing part; means comprising a fracturable sealing. plate part constituting a wall of the housing part, for securing the housing partto said. container wall over the aperture thereofsand for sea-ling said aperture, one of said parts having anedge crimped back on itself and eonfiningportionsof the other part to secure the parts together: anozzle on said housing part; manually operable-means carried by said housing part; for piercing said plate part, thereby to break the sealof the aperture; and a pipe carried by said plate part, adapted to extend into the con-,

' sealing attachment directly to said container, wall-over the aperturethereof; a nozzle on said housing manua1ly operable means including a depressible button carried by said housing,;,-for piercing-maid plategpandaremovable cap frictionally retained gbyr; the housing, adapted to normallycover said button and prevent ac cidntal external pressure from being applied containing 11;. :readflkfracturable sheet-metal.

sealing plate adapted for sealing attachment directly to said .w'allaround the opening thereof, said, plate havir ig an edge portion crimped back on itself; a housing secured to said plate under the. 'giiirriped edge portion thereof and enclosing the major part of one side of the plate; manually operable means carried by the housing, for piercing said plate; and a nozzle carried by said housing for directing liquid which is discharged from the container throughsaid pierced plate. 11. A Pressurized fire extinguisher comprisa c'a'r 1=lilge container having on one end wall a projecting housing provided with a base secured to the 'cpnt'ainer, and a nozzle and fracturable seal separating 'th e n'ozzle and contents of the contamer; means in'cluding a movable member carmeaty the housing, for-puncturing said seal; and siemovab1ea sndab1y mounted on the housing and having spring fingers engaging sides of the housing and terminating short of the base of the housing whereby the cap may be readily gripped rein'ove it from the housing, and is frictio iiallyretairied in place and readily removable,"said teasing and cap having coop'erable abuttihgjshoiildei-sprevnting the cap from being de'p'r "sed, and the cap normally covering said member and preventing accidental external presfrfiiii eing; applied thereto. 1-2; A"pr'es su'rized fire extinguisher comprising ae-eontam a housing on the container, having a flanged base; a nozzle mounted on the housing;

a fed 't 1 1be, 'one projecting through a' wan 6f the entamf and into Said hdusihg; and

v new: of manufacture, a unitary} noaale assembly fon attachment to an apertured means fastening said housing and end of the feed tube to the container and sealing said tube and container, comprising a plate having its peripheral portions crimped over the flanged base of the housing, said plate being bonded to the container and having an outwardly dished portion receiving and bonded to the projecting end of the feed tube, part of said dished portion closing the end of the feed tube and being readily fracturable to enable the contents of the container to be discharged through the housing and said nozzle.

JOSEPH H. CONE.

10 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 899,952 Carpenter Sept. 29, 1908 1,715,347 Badger June 4, 1929 1,800,156 Rotheim Apr. 7, 1931 2,391,583 Martin Dec. 25, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 47,078 France Dec. 14, 1934 226,891 Great Britain J an. 5, 1925 

